About the Artist
I was an officer in the U.S. Navy for 22 years, but have always been an artist. After I retired from the Navy, my wife and I came to the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina. I went back to school and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, with a concentration in painting, from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Following graduation in 2003, I became a full-time artist with a studio in the River Arts District. My paintings have been exhibited in museums and galleries across the eastern half of the country, and I've had multiple solo exhibits in universities and art spaces in North Carolina and Tennessee.
In 2008, I answered a call and went to Iraq for 18 months with the State Department to manage reconstruction programs around the country. That was followed by a year in Afghanistan, helping local officials, businessmen, and others to better manage their government and economy. I returned home in 2012 and my wife won't let me go to war zones anymore.
Now my studio is in a former textile mill next to the historic French Broad River just north of Asheville. I'm always working on something new - currently a series of figures in charcoal and pastels, but also with new techniques in oils. My paintings have won recognition and awards in national and regional exhibitions. The Smithsonian Museum of American History has my "Faces of Afghanistan" drawings (over 80 drawings, mostly portrait sketches of rural Afghans done from life) in their permanent collection. In addition to making my own artworks, I teach workshops and mentor young students. I also serve as a live event painter at weddings and other event - for details on those services, see my Event Paintings website.
In 2008, I answered a call and went to Iraq for 18 months with the State Department to manage reconstruction programs around the country. That was followed by a year in Afghanistan, helping local officials, businessmen, and others to better manage their government and economy. I returned home in 2012 and my wife won't let me go to war zones anymore.
Now my studio is in a former textile mill next to the historic French Broad River just north of Asheville. I'm always working on something new - currently a series of figures in charcoal and pastels, but also with new techniques in oils. My paintings have won recognition and awards in national and regional exhibitions. The Smithsonian Museum of American History has my "Faces of Afghanistan" drawings (over 80 drawings, mostly portrait sketches of rural Afghans done from life) in their permanent collection. In addition to making my own artworks, I teach workshops and mentor young students. I also serve as a live event painter at weddings and other event - for details on those services, see my Event Paintings website.
Interview in The Wrath-Bearing Tree
The Wrath-Bearing Tree is a literary publication of works by veterans. One of their contributors conducted an interview with me. It covers a lot of territory: life, art training, experiences, several series of artworks, live wedding painting, and much much more. Take a look at it here!
The Wrath-Bearing Tree is a literary publication of works by veterans. One of their contributors conducted an interview with me. It covers a lot of territory: life, art training, experiences, several series of artworks, live wedding painting, and much much more. Take a look at it here!
"Flip Your Script" Podcast Interview
Skip was interviewed by journalist Kristie Piehl for the "Flip Your Script" podcast. The focus on this podcast is on people who change the direction of their lives. In Skip's case, it was on the process of going from a military career to being an artist. But that was just the starting point, there was much more. Click here to go to the podcast.
Skip was interviewed by journalist Kristie Piehl for the "Flip Your Script" podcast. The focus on this podcast is on people who change the direction of their lives. In Skip's case, it was on the process of going from a military career to being an artist. But that was just the starting point, there was much more. Click here to go to the podcast.
Article in "Asheville Made" Magazine
Asheville Made is a magazine focused on artists and craftspeople in the Asheville, NC, area. Their November 2020 issue has an article about Skip. Click here to see it.
Asheville Made is a magazine focused on artists and craftspeople in the Asheville, NC, area. Their November 2020 issue has an article about Skip. Click here to see it.
"Local HeARTed" Podcast Interview
Skip was interviewed by Meredith Adler for the Local HeARTed podcast. This podcast is a collection of interviews with artists and others in the western North Carolina art world, especially Asheville. Skip's interview is rather lengthy at 1 hr 20 minutes, but it covers a lot of subjects and provides a lot of insight into what he does and why he does it. Click here to go to the site.
Skip was interviewed by Meredith Adler for the Local HeARTed podcast. This podcast is a collection of interviews with artists and others in the western North Carolina art world, especially Asheville. Skip's interview is rather lengthy at 1 hr 20 minutes, but it covers a lot of subjects and provides a lot of insight into what he does and why he does it. Click here to go to the site.